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Key 1 (Form) Key 2 (Compactness) Key 3 (Variability) Key 4 (Woodiness) Key 5 (Succulence) Key 6 (Thorniness) Sketch Example
C 1 0 0 0 0

Herbaceous species with radial compact hemispherical cushion (Rauh’s Vollkugelpolster)

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Androsace helvetica (L.) All. (Primulaceae), here in the Alps at ca 2700 m
C 0 0 1 0 1

Woody and thorny species with radial hollow hemispherical cushion (Rauh’s Hohlkugelpolster)

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Onobrychis cornuta (L.) Desv. (Fabaceae) here at Olang pass , at ca 2200 m, Semnan, Elburz mountains
F 1 0 1 0 0

Species woody at the base and with radial compact low cushion (Rauh’s Vollflachpoolster)

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Silene acaulis (L.) Jacq. (Caryophyllaceae) here in the Alps at ca 2700 m
M 0_1 0 1 0 1

Species with woody stock forming a semi-compact creeping cushions (Rauh’s Kriechpolster)

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Arenaria tetraquetra L. (Caryophyllaceae) here in the Sierra Nevada in Spain at ca 3000m
TC 1 0 0 0 0

Herbaceous species forming a tufted compact cushion (Rauh’s Rasenpolster)

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Paepalanthus karstenii Ruhland (Eriocaulaceae), here in the tropical Andes of Venezuela at 3900m
C 0 0 1 1 1

Thorny succulent species forming radial hollow hemispherical cushion (Rauh’s Sukkulente polsterpflanzen)

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Austrocylindropuntia floccosa (Salm-Dyck ex Winterfeld) F.Ritter (Cactaceae)
M or C 1 1 0 0 0

Species woody at the base forming either compact mats (left) or compact hemispherical cushions (right)

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Azorella selago Hook.f. (Apiaceae), here in Kerguelen archipelago either in communities with Pringlea antiscorbutica, Acaena magellanica, Festuca magellanica (left) or as pioneer species (right).
C 0 2 0 0 1

Herbaceous thorny species growing either solitary or forming rosette cushions

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Phyllactis rigida (Ruiz & Pav.) Pers. (Valerianaceae) here in the paramo El Angel in Ecuador, at ca 4000 m either as a rosette cushion (left) or solitary (right)